Category Archives: Community Notes

Newton as a Welcoming City For All

Save the Date: Mayor’s 1st Annual Community Discussion on Newton as a Welcoming City For All

Help us ensure that Newton is open to people of all races/ethnicities, religions, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and disabilities.

On Thursday evening, April 7th, Mayor Warren will host the first annual community discussion focused on ensuring that Newton is a welcoming community to people of all backgrounds. The forum will include leaders from our community and beyond. This will be an opportunity for residents of all ages to ask questions, and join us in making Newton the most inclusive community it can be.

The discussion will be held in the War Memorial of Newton City Hall, located at 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, on Thursday, April 7th at 6:30 pm.

High School Start Time updates

New items have been posted on the High School Start Time web page including information about the faculty/staff survey and about the timeline.

Please review the presentation made March 14th at School Committee, or check out the full broadcast on NewTV. Also, the F.A.Q has been updated.

Please visit the web page for more information http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/laterstarttime

Community Forum on High School Start Time: Especially for Middle and Elementary Parents

Save the Date! Join the Newton South School Council to explore the research on starting high school later and the impact it has on our teenagers. We hope to continue the community conversation around the the impact of inadequate sleep on our teens and welcome middle and elementary parents to the discussion.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Christopher Landrigan, Director of the Sleep and Patient Safety Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Research Director of Inpatient Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Landrigan is also a Brown and South parent; he was the featured speaker at January’s High School Start Time Forum at Newton North. Catch up on the research and join the conversation—we look forward to seeing you there.

More information and resources on adolescent sleep and later start time here http://newtonsouthptso.org/school-info/school-council/.

Community Forum
April 6th, 7:00-8:30 pm
Brown Middle School Auditorium

Teen Programs next week @ the Library

Starry Night Pastel Workshop: Work in tandem with artist Greg Maichack to draw Starry Night with pastels on black paper. For teens and adults.  March 14th, 4:00 or 7:00 pm, Druker Auditorium.

Teen Crafterhours: Meet on the third Tuesday of every month to make crafts and eat snacks. This month you’ll be painting terra cotta pots for Spring. Grades 6-12. March 15th, 7:00 pm, second floor Teen Area.

PLFAG Presents: Community Safe Spaces Workshop: Join a presentation that unpacks LGBTQ+ terminology and raises awareness about gender identity and sexual orientation. Sponsored by Newton Youth Services. March 16th, 7:00 pm, Druker Auditorium.

Teen Tinker Club: Use littleBits to invent new things! Bits snap together with magnets to make circuits in seconds. Tinker Club is brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Grades 6-12. Space is limited, please register online. March 17th, 4:00 pm, second floor Teen Area.

Saturday Science Open Lab: Drop in during the two-hour Open Lab to explore engineering, circuitry, coding and robotics. Discover LSTA grant purchased equipment including HexBugs, Kibo, littleBits, Lego WeDo and Spark Fun Inventor kits. Demonstrations and hands on activities for all ages will be available.
This Code Newton program is brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.  March 19th, 2:00-4:00 pm, Druker Auditorium.

Newton Reads Book Discussion @ L’Aroma Cafe: Join a discussion of I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson at L’Aroma Cafe, 15 Spencer St. West Newton. March 20th, 2:00 pm.

Karen K & the Jitterbugs – Free Performance for Kids

Bug Out! With Karen K in her imaginary backyard fort where she makes music with her friends, the Jitterbugs: Bumble (the bee who doesn’t like to sting); Stinky (loves playing outside, refuses baths); Hop (lots of energy, not a lot of self control); Slug Bug (needs a LOT of naps) and her best friend Lightening (thinks he’s a super hero).

Karen K & the Jitterbugs is one of the Belmont Savings Bank Free Performance Series, visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org for the rest of the schedule.

March 19th,  2:00 pm
Newton Cultural Center
City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue

Public Speaking and Leadership Camp for Grades 6 -10

This summer, Lumos Debate is offering 2 week day-camp for Newton
students grades 6-10. Your child will practice critical thinking, argumentation, and public speaking in a fun and engaging learning environment. These are the skills that will get your kid noticed and catapult them into leadership positions in school and in their future careers! For more information email info@lumosdebate.com or visit their website: http://camp.lumosdebate.com/newton-summer-camp/.

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cuSTEMized free STEM event

You are invited to a wonderful STEM event hosted by The Innovation Institute.

cuSTEMized: If you can see it, you can be it!
What would you like to be when you grow up? A doctor? A scientist? An engineer? Come imagine, explore, and color with cuSTEMized at this fun-filled, hands-on learning, and fundraiser event! Learn about the science of colors! What is a prism? Why does a rainbow appear when it rains? Have fun with coloring pages featuring different science, technology, engineering, and other cool careers. Every child will receive a coloring book featuring different STEM careers.
-Make a personalized ebook about yourself as a veterinarian, agronomist, meteorologist, and more.
-Meet and hear from real scientists studying how do brains grows, how to cure cancer, and other scientific topics.

What: cuSTEMized: If you can see it, you can be it!
Who: Pre-K – grade 4 (aimed at girls/all are welcome)
Where: 288 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Newtonville, MA 02460
When: March 20th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
How: Please register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coloring-with-custemized-if-you-can-see-it-you-can-be-it-tickets-214084372120

All donations go towards providing free personalized books to the 1st graders at Science Club for Girls, a local after-school STEM-enrichment program for girls, and the girls at Head Start, an early education program that services low-income families.

Please visit cuSTEMized.org or contact info@cuSTEMized.org for more information.

Spots on the Newton Girls Ultimate Frisbee Team!

Mark Goodman and his daughter Sophie formed the Newton Girls Ultimate Frisbee team for middle school girls in 2013. The team had a successful season last Spring competing in 3 tournaments. Mark has played and taught Ultimate for 20+ years, and he looks forward to coaching the team again this Spring. There are a few roster spots open. If your daughter is interested in playing, please contact Mark at MGoodmanhome@gmail.com.

Who: Newton Girls in grades 5 – 8.
When: Sundays 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Practice begins on March 13th.
Where: TBD
What: The girls will learn to play Ultimate Frisbee. The team is tentatively playing in local tournaments in May and early June – and in Amherst on May 22nd.
How: If your daughter might be interested in playing, please contact Mark.
MGoodmanhome@gmail.com. The team will be limited to a max of 20 players.
Cost: $80. This fee covers field rental, insurance. Each player will receive their own disc (Frisbee).

Why: reasons to learn to play Ultimate
1. Ultimate teaches kids integrity in sports. There are no refs in Ultimate Frisbee. The players must learn the rules and make their own foul calls. In national championships there are observers who help make rulings on difficult calls – but no refs.
2. A player can be a receiver and quarterback on every play.
3. Ultimate teaches field spacing and cutting techniques that can be applied to other sports like soccer, lacrosse and basketball.
4. Ultimate is a lifetime sport. Virtually every major US city has adult leagues – and some (like Boston) now feature masters leagues for those over 40+ years of age.
5. There more than 700 colleges with Ultimate teams, and larger schools often field 2-3 teams grouped by skill level.